Heidelberg
The suburb has 7,360 residents, a median age of 39, and 56.8% university attainment, 26.7 percentage points above the national figure. Apartments represent 40.8% of dwellings and separate houses 42.5%. For buyers comparing Heidelberg with nearby Rosanna or Ivanhoe, that compact housing mix is a clear point of difference. Healthcare accounts for 24.4% of employment, while 44.1% work from home, supporting a service-led market with incomes at the 75.3rd household percentile.
Population
7,360
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,012/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$1.6M
October to December 2025
Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.
Choice is broader than a conventional family-house market because 40.8% of dwellings are apartments, 16.7% semi-detached and 42.5% separate houses. Mortgage costs are $2,150 monthly and stress is flagged false at 24.7% of income. Two-bedroom homes lead at 37.5%, then three-bedroom stock at 31.5%.
For Buyers
Choice is broader than a conventional family-house market because 40.8% of dwellings are apartments, 16.7% semi-detached and 42.5% separate houses. Mortgage costs are $2,150 monthly and stress is flagged false at 24.7% of income. Two-bedroom homes lead at 37.5%, then three-bedroom stock at 31.5%.
For Investors
Investors get a tenant-heavy profile, with 41.5% renting and weekly rent of $400. However, the 12.6% vacancy rate is higher than the low-vacancy conditions that usually create stronger rent competition, so leasing may be less defensive than the location suggests. Five development applications in 12 months, including a six-lot townhouse subdivision, add some supply risk. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while Active gentrification at score 58 can support renewal but also raises the entry hurdle.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+66.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Heidelberg
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Heidelberg Primary School
St John's School
Our Lady of Mercy College
Demographics
At 39, Heidelberg's median age is 1 year below the national comparison, while university attainment reaches 56.8%, 26.7 percentage points above the national level. The overseas-born share is 29.3%, 7.7 points higher than nationally. Leading ancestries include English 2,079, Irish 888, Italian 807 and Scottish 669; Italian, Mandarin and Greek are the most recorded non-English languages at 89, 81 and 65 people. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below the national comparison, helping explain the 41.4% share of couples without children and demand for smaller dwellings. Resident stability is high, with 71.8% staying at the same address, compared with 28.2% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
42.5%
Houses
16.7%
Townhouse
40.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between outright owners at 28.0%, mortgage holders at 28.1% and renters at 41.5%. Compared with a detached-house suburb, Heidelberg has a higher apartment share at 40.8% and 16.7% semi-detached dwellings, while 42.5% are separate houses. Two-bedroom homes lead at 37.5%, followed by three-bedroom stock at 31.5%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,150
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $400.
$565
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $600 · units $530
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,086
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.6%
Unoccupied
430
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
43.6%
Couples with children
41.4%
Couples, no children
13.3%
Single parent
1,900
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Heidelberg's largest industry at 24.4% of workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 14.4%, Education at 13.3%, Construction at 7.0% and Public Administration at 6.9%. This mix is more service-heavy than a trade-led base because health, education and professional roles support local demand. Professionals number 1,631, well above Managers at 566 and Clerical/Admin at 474, reinforcing a high-skill profile. Unemployment is 4.2%, participation is 66.5% and full-time employment is 62.3%. Household income sits at the 75.3rd percentile, while education and occupation reaches decile 9, higher than the economic resources decile 7. That gap points to strong qualifications and employment, but not uniformly high financial capacity.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
4,075
Unemployed
173
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.3%
Part-time
31.4%
Participation
66.5%
Employed
3,902
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
56.8%
Postgraduate
19.0%
Born Overseas
29.3%
Dwellings
2,985
Transport to Work
Daily life is supported by 3 local schools across government and Catholic sectors, covering 2 primary schools and 1 secondary college. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, because boundaries can cut across suburb lines. Heidelberg is highly work-from-home oriented at 44.1%, while 39.0% drive and 9.3% walk or cycle; public transport use is 5.2%, so daily travel is more car and home based than transit led. Safety needs attention: 1,678 recorded offences equal 228.0 per 1,000 residents, with justice procedures and property/deception offences accounting for 763 and 589 cases. Socioeconomic advantage is high, with IRSAD and IRSD both in decile 9, above the IER decile 7. That contrast means high socioeconomic advantage does not remove the need to check crime street by street.
Drive
39.0%
Public Transport
5.2%
Walk / Cycle
9.3%
Work from Home
44.1%
Population Forecast
+1.06%/yr
(+182 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with the wider area forecast at 1.06% annually and population change of 10.5% across 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which suits Heidelberg's 29.3% overseas-born share and can sustain demand for apartments and rentals. The trajectory is Mixed, while gentrification is Active with a score of 58, indicating ongoing change rather than a settled premium market. Rents have risen 41.2%, real incomes 41.0% and the COVID dip of 3.2% was followed by a 10.7% recovery. Affordability improved from 55.4 in 2011 to 45.1 in 2021, so prices remain higher than the earlier period despite an Improving affordability trend.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+274
Net Internal / yr
+120
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +120/yr, Strong overseas inflow +274/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 16%, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,678
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
228.0
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Heidelberg compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heidelberg a good suburb to live in?
Heidelberg can suit buyers seeking established services and a highly educated workforce, but the price point is premium. The median age is 39, household income is at the 75.3rd percentile and 44.1% work from home. Review street-level crime, parking and school zones before committing.
What schools are in Heidelberg?
Three schools are located locally: Heidelberg Primary School, St John's School and Our Lady of Mercy College. The mix is 2 primary schools and 1 secondary college across government and Catholic sectors. Confirm the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can differ by address.
Is Heidelberg safe?
Safety deserves active checking. Heidelberg records 228.0 offences per 1,000 residents and 1,678 total offences, including 589 property and deception offences. Crime can vary by street and time, so compare the exact address with current local police information before renting or buying.
How is Heidelberg's population changing?
Population change is positive but measured rather than rapid. The wider area has a forecast annual trend of 1.06% and 10.5% change across 10 years, with overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed and gentrification is Active at score 58. Rents have risen 41.2%, supporting demand but adding affordability pressure.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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